"40% of Scottish vet practices owned by off shore companies"

[killie_cowboy]

Badgers rapidly increasing in the Highlands already, though some apparently normal rational country people still think they are cute. Came across a car driver almost in tears the other day who had just run one over.

Meanwhile we are about putting the motor on it's roof aiming for... Erm... avoiding them.

 

[killie_cowboy]

I've been of the view that for serious drug addicts I'd be more than happy for them to be given the drug(s) they have become dependant upon on prescription, on the condition they attend health screening appointments regularly.

This would eliminate the criminal aspect to drugs overnight and create a lot less collateral problems for society, not to mention be a whole lot safer. Long term, it would be cheaper for society, too.

I agree the justice system just doesn't work and we need to build some big spangly prisons and not be afraid of putting people away for long sentences.

That was the idea with the methadone programme, but it has failed. They don't want weaned off, they want the full bore. "Just one more hit". Can you imagine if the govt started giving out full strength class As though... There would be an explosion of state-sponsored junkies.

 

[ollie989898]

That was the idea with the methadone programme, but it has failed. They don't want weaned off, they want the full bore. "Just one more hit". Can you imagine if the govt started giving out full strength class As though... There would be an explosion of state-sponsored junkies.

My argument is that if they are going to take drugs anyway, the only difference is that they won't be committing crimes to finance their habit- that is the part of drugs that affects you and I adversely. The government can buy pharmaceutical grade heroin far cheaper than any street dealer. It's a commercially grown product, too- made from plants- it's not some fancy patented chemical that has to be made from scratch in a laboratory. It may well be even cheaper than methadone, I don't know the figures. I know such drugs are prescribed in some countries, I will have to research the subject in depth.

 

[Cowabunga]

independent farm vets are picking up no end of clients from the ones now owned by corporate firms around here by all accounts, heard of several thousand cows worth of business moving in the last couple of months alone

Same here in West Wales. Many older vets have retired by selling to these remote corporate businesses only for them to double or treble pet vet prices. Some of the vets at those practices then go off and set up on their own.
In my case a whole lot of farms have moved to a growing practice that just do not do pets. Only large animals for professional farmers. Which explains why they are called Prostock. Excellent service at a reasonable price.
Other great independent vet practices also operate in the area. My feeling is that the big corporates are doing very well through fleecing the pet market and don’t particularly want the large animal business.

 

[Exfarmer]

My argument is that if they are going to take drugs anyway, the only difference is that they won't be committing crimes to finance their habit- that is the part of drugs that affects you and I adversely. The government can buy pharmaceutical grade heroin far cheaper than any street dealer. It's a commercially grown product, too- made from plants- it's not some fancy patented chemical that has to be made from scratch in a laboratory. It may well be even cheaper than methadone, I don't know the figures. I know such drugs are prescribed in some countries, I will have to research the subject in depth.

My uncle was a heroin addict all his adult life, depite being a highly intelligent man he never held down a job for more than a few weeks and I would think 90% of his life he was unemployed.
My mother absolutely despised him for it , living off the state and selling anything of value his father had in his life while his mother did her best to feed and keep a roof over both their heads.
on her deathbed my mother ( who sadly died young) made myself and my brother swear never to give him one penny which he did come begging for quite often.
he was in those days able to feed his habit as a registered addict by getting his supplies from the local chemist.
So no Ollie I do not think any help to these people is doing them or society anty favours at all and I would certainly lock up all dealers for their natural life

 

[Top Tip.]

Same has happened at our vets. Main man set up as a satellite practice for Westpoint Farm Vets. They were bought out by private equity who sold it on again to another private equity group (Vet Partners ) . He left and took two other vets and the practice manager and set up a new practice. Majority of the clients have moved to him.

There is usually a restraint of trade clause written into the sale contract,friend of mine sold his practice to one of the private equity groups. He had to continue in the practice for two years after the sale.

 

[ollie989898]

My uncle was a heroin addict all his adult life, depite being a highly intelligent man he never held down a job for more than a few weeks and I would think 90% of his life he was unemployed.
My mother absolutely despised him for it , living off the state and selling anything of value his father had in his life while his mother did her best to feed and keep a roof over both their heads.
on her deathbed my mother ( who sadly died young) made myself and my brother swear never to give him one penny which he did come begging for quite often.
he was in those days able to feed his habit as a registered addict by getting his supplies from the local chemist.
So no Ollie I do not think any help to these people is doing them or society anty favours at all and I would certainly lock up all dealers for their natural life

But they are going to have to commit crime to finance a habit.

I don't mind folk doing drugs, I definitely do mind folk driving when on drugs, or trying to steal my property, mug old ladies or sell drugs to my kids to finance their habit.

Some people do kick the habit, with the right help. This isn't just a psychological addiction, it's a recognised medical problem/

 

[Swarfmonkey]

There is usually a restraint of trade clause written into the sale contract,friend of mine sold his practice to one of the private equity groups. He had to continue in the practice for two years after the sale.

Did he bail out after the two years were up?

 

[Hilly]

Good friend of mine is a prison officer , he said to me one day if they put a pedophile on my wing by mistake and they found out id give him ten mins before he was dead, put a drug dealer on my wing hes local hero , now he says thats the mentality of the scum bags , a pedophile might affect one child one family horrendous crime not to be devalued however a drig dealer will affect lots of lives in some cases whole towns … none for the better but the scum hail them heros , humans really are weird .

 

[Cowabunga]

There is usually a restraint of trade clause written into the sale contract,friend of mine sold his practice to one of the private equity groups. He had to continue in the practice for two years after the sale.

Yes for the vets that owned the practice and sold it. Not so for employees including vets, blood samplers/TB testers, hoof trimmers, secretaries and nurses, toilet cleaners and other staff and administrators.

 

[Top Tip.]

Did he bail out after the two years were up?

No he’s still there but only going in couple of days a week. He always enjoyed his work. He will be the exception though. I know of another that only lasted 6 months hated the changes .

 

[Enry]

Same here in West Wales. Many older vets have retired by selling to these remote corporate businesses only for them to double or treble pet vet prices. Some of the vets at those practices then go off and set up on their own.
In my case a whole lot of farms have moved to a growing practice that just do not do pets. Only large animals for professional farmers. Which explains why they are called Prostock. Excellent service at a reasonable price.
Other great independent vet practices also operate in the area. My feeling is that the big corporates are doing very well through fleecing the pet market and don’t particularly want the large animal business.

I think they thought large animal would be a licence to print money and have caught a cold - two big practices up here bought by VP have been decimated with existing and new independents picking up farms like a turkey shoot.

 

[Bob the beef]

Huge corporate practice near here in difficulty after trying to fleece their clients, large and small. 2 young fellas left and started up themselves, large animals only and doing very well. My own practice has just brought in 2 new young partners and have a legal commitment not to sell out

 

[Hilly]

My vet said between not makimg as much as they thought and staffing issues these big companys that bought lot of vets are not so happy now ……. Ah good greed gets ya .

 

[David.]

Cannabis has been legalised in Canada.
It is said that the official Govt stuff is not as good as the illegal, and so people are still buying from dealers.
Otherwise I have always said what Ollie says;
Crime to feed the drug habit, and the organised criminals in the supply chain is the worst element of drugs, and the part that affects other people.
Taking the criminals out of the equation by prescribing drugs legally, PROVIDED that the addicts are part of a well managed cleanup program, would be a good place to start.

 

[devonshirekiwi]

If things got bad enough i might yes , i wouldnt to tho because they have been brought up properly, not dragged up due to drugs like so many .

I find your comments repulsive and an insult to the families of these people.
I await with interest your book on bringing up children and young adults, it will be a best seller. The title should be " There but for the Grace of God go I.

 

[Hilly]

I find your comments repulsive and an insult to the families of these people.
I await with interest your book on bringing up children and young adults, it will be a best seller. The title should be " There but for the Grace of God go I.

I dont need to write a book as i have done it successfully , dose it ever occur to you i find apologists for lying lawbreaking scum Offensive ? Well guess what i do, and im not easily offended either.

 

[Oldmacdonald]

I dont need to write a book as i have done it successfully , dose it ever occur to you i find apologists for lying lawbreaking scum Offensive ? Well guess what i do, and im not easily offended either.

I think many people may find the fact you advocate murdering people, quite offensive also.

 

[Cowabunga]

I dont need to write a book as i have done it successfully , dose it ever occur to you i find apologists for lying lawbreaking scum Offensive ? Well guess what i do, and im not easily offended either.

Must have taken someone a massive effort to edit it to be fit for publication.

 

[ollie989898]

Cannabis has been legalised in Canada.
It is said that the official Govt stuff is not as good as the illegal, and so people are still buying from dealers.
Otherwise I have always said what Ollie says;
Crime to feed the drug habit, and the organised criminals in the supply chain is the worst element of drugs, and the part that affects other people.
Taking the criminals out of the equation by prescribing drugs legally, PROVIDED that the addicts are part of a well managed cleanup program, would be a good place to start.

Cannabis is a separate issue in reality. I wouldn't be in favour of legalising anything, more an adjustment in how addictions are dealt with medically.